Flat knitting machine



K. P. SPINDLER EI'AL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE March 11, 1941.

Filed July 10, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Winess mill March 11, 1941. K; P. SPINDLER ETAL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 10-, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1941- K. P. SPINDLER ETAL 2,234,389

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1937 4 sheet -sheet s Wflness 1V. 6. mm)

1 March 11, 1941.,

K. P, SPINDLER EI'AL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 10, 19s! 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 F 1 6 1 1 11 w a 1,, a J W a M G 1 0 o 6 a 6 w// 1 Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assignors to Karl Lieberknecht,

Inc., Reading,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 10, 1937, Serial No. 152,956

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to fiat knitting machines.

In some knitting operations, it is necessary to retain a carrier in a definite position with respect to the needles and sinkers of the machine;

thus any carrier which is temporarily inactive must be held in an exact position over a dividing sinker while the knitting cycle proceeds with one or more active carriers. As an example, in knitting so-called ringless fabric by the use of an alternating carrier drive, it is necessary to guard against drag or rebound of the inactive carrier rods as the active carrier strikes its limiting stop.

The traverse of any carrier is determined by its stops, but the stops themselves cannot be used to positively hold the carrier in the position determined thereby. The same stops are not used for all portions of the fabric, and some of the stops, such as those used for pointed heel knitting, are variable in position in order to permit varying traverses of the carriers.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for positively looking a carrier at a position determined by its stop, re-

gardless of the positions of the stop with relation to other parts of the machine, and irrespective of the character of the fabric being hiit.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic means for disengaging the locking devices when a shift or resetting of the carriers is necessary, as during a narrowing cycle, and for re-engaging the locking devices in the new position.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means for starting and stopping the alternating mechanism of the carrier drive whereby the knitting of ringless fabric may be interrupted as, for example, in making heel tabs. With these and other objects in view as will hereinafter appear, the present invention comprises the method and machine hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a sec tional elevation of the preferred form. of knit- 4 ting machine according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carrier rods and associated stop and lock mechanisms; Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the carrier rod lock mechanism; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mecha- 50 .nism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is aplan view of the alternating mechanism; Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of 3; Fig. I is an elevation of the mechanism of disengaging the lock pins during the narrowing cycle; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the 55 mechanism shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is an elevation illustrating the automatic mechanism for controlling the alternating drive; Fig. 10 is a detail view of the latch for the control shaft; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the pattern devices for operating the control shaft; and Fig. 12 is a 5 section on line l2|2 of Fig. 9.

The machine illustrated in the drawings e,m ploys a plurality of carrier rods of which three, indicated at l4, l6 and I8, are the alternating rods for knitting ringless fabric. These three 10 rods are operated by an alternating friction drive indicated generally at 20, and having means for operating the individual carriers in succession. The friction drive slides on a shaft 22 and is provided with arms 23 for selective connection 15 with dogs on the respective carrier rods. In ringless knitting only one of the carrier rods is operated at a time, the other two remaining idle at the selvage. p,

The movement of the active carrier rod is de- 2 termined by several sets of stops, depending on the character of the fabricbeing knit. Thus in knitting plain fabric the rods are stopped by the usual selvage stop mechanism indicated generally at 24. In making straight sutures the stops 25 are the fixed inner selvage stops 26 which, as shown in Fig. 2, are similar to those described in the co-pending application of Spindler, Serial 'No. 152,955, filed July 10, 1937, for Flat knitting machines. In knitting pointed heels the stops employed are those indicated at 28, which are controlled by the spindles 30.

As herein shown and described the locking devices which form one of the principal features of the invention are applied only to the ringless car- 35 riers l4, l6 and I8, although similar means may be applied to any carriers, whether or not associated with a ringless or alternating drive.

According to. the present invention there is provided an automatic locking mechanism indi- 40 cated generally at 32, which operates as a positive lock for the idling carriers, regardless of the particular stop mechanism-which may he in use.

As shown in Fig. 3 the lock mechanism 32 comprises a bracket 33 mounted in a fixed position on the machine frame and carrying three sliding pins 34, 3B and 38 to co-act with the carrier rods l4, I6 and I8 respectively. Each pin is provided with a serrated bottom surface 40 as shown in Fig. 6, and each of the carrier rods is also provided with serrations 42 adapted to be engaged thereby. The lock pins are adapted to be kept out of engagement with their respective carrier rods by means of compression springs ll, each of which bears at one end against the bracket 82 and at the other end against a head 86 on the stop pin. The serrations on both the pins and carriers are spaced in a definite relation to the needle gauge; in the usual machine where variations in traverse are made in steps of two needle widths, the serrations are two needle widths apart.

During knitting of ringless fabric two of the stop pins are depressed into engagement with the inactive carrier rods while the third pin is raised to permit the active carrier rod to operate. The control for the stop pins comprises three pivoted levers 88, 58 and 52, arranged to engage the heads 86 of the corresponding lock pins. Each lever is provided with a cam follower roll 58 engaging with a cam 56 on the friction alternating shaft 22. The three cams 56 operate in a manner to depress two of the lock pins at a time, these cams being synchronized with the friction alternating mechanism 28in a manner to provide a positive lock for the inactive carriers while permitting free movement of the active carrier. The shaft 22 is racked one tooth at each course as described in the patent to Friedmann 2,018,059.

The teeth on each carrier rod extend over a length at least as great as the maximum traverse; consequently the lock pin engages the rod at whatever position the rod may assume at the end of the traverse, as determined by the particular stop setting. The lock pin is released at a time just before the return traverse of the rod is to begin. An advantage of the invention is that it automatically corrects for any slight misalignment, since the engagement of the sloping tooth surfaces brings the rod to an exact position. During a narrowing cycle, it is necessary to unlook all of the carrier rods to permit shifting thereof to positions determined by the stops for the narrowed fabric. To this end the levers 88, 58 and 52 are not mounted on fixed pivots, but are pivoted at the rear on an eccentric stud 58. The stud 58 is connected by a link 68 and a rod 62 with an arm 68 having a cam roll 66 adapted to be engaged by a cam 68 when the main cam shaft I8 of the machine is shogged into narrowing position. During the narrowing cycle, therefore, the eccentric 58 is rotated in a direction to depress the rear ends of all of the levers, thereby rendering the levers ineffective to depress any. of the lock pins. When the cam shaft is shogged back to knitting position the eccentric 58 and the operating levers are returned to proper position for depressing the lock pins of the inactive carriers in readiness for the next course of knitting.

A further improvement resides in the provision of means for automatically stopping and starting the step-by-step operation of the alternating drive shaft 22 to permit interruptions of ringless knitting. The rotation of the shaft is accomplished by a ratchet 12 mounted on the shaft 22 and racked by the pawl I8. The pawl is mounted on a pawl lever I6 connected by a link 18 with a pivoted lever 88, having a cam roll 82 engaging a cam 88 on the cam shaft. A stop lever 86, shown in Figs. 9 and 12, normally lies out of engagement with the lever 88, but is adapted to be moved into the position of Fig. 12 where it blocks the lever 88 and prevents the roll 82 from following the contour of the cam 88, thereby preventing operation of the racking pawl I8.

The restraining lever 86 is mounted on a stud 88 to which is attached an arm 88 connected by a link 82 with a bell crank cam follower 88 engaging a cam surface 86 on a control shaft 98. When the follower 88 is moved outwardly by a high part of the cam 86 the restraining lever 86 ismoved into the path of the lever 88, thereby preventing the latter from being actuated by the cam 88. When the follower 88 engages a low part of the cam the lever 86 is moved out of the path of the lever 88 by means of a spring I88 acting as shown in Fig. 9 on the rod 82.

The control shaft 88 is automatically given a step-by-step rotation from the pattern mechanism as described in the Lieberknecht application, Serial No. 141,005, filed May 6, 1937. These automatic control devices are herein described briefly as follows. The pattern mechanism includes the intermittently operated pattern chain I82 having a series of buttons arranged to act through linkages indicated generally at I88, I86 and I88 to shift a forked arm II8 to the right. The arm engages a collar on a stud II2 which carries a cam roll 8 adapted, upon shifting of the fork, to be brought into operative relation with a cam II6 on the main cam shaft I8, The stud I I2 is journaled at the end of a pivoted lever I I8 which is connected at the other end by a vertical link I28 with a pawl I22 arranged to operate a ratchet I28, which is mounted on the control shaft 88. Engagement of a button on the pattern chain with the linkage above described therefore results in operation at the pawl I22 to advance the ratchet I28 by one tooth. The cam 86 constitutes one of agroup of cams which may be employed for automatically controlling certain of the operations of the machine.

In the specific operation of the ringless mechanism as herein described the alternating drive shaft 22 is permitted to operate through its associated cam lever 88 whenever the follower 88 engages a low part of the cam 86 so that the lever 88 is not restrained by the arm 86. When ringless knitting is to be interrupted the follower 88 is lifted by the cam 86 at a time determined by the operation of the pattern mechanism so that the restraining arm 86 is rocked into the position of Figs. 9 and 12, thereby preventing racking of the alternating drive shaft 22. The machine may then be operated for plain knitting. When the control shaft has advanced to such a point that the follower 88 drops off the high cam surface the restraining arm 86 is moved out of the path of the lever 88 and ringless knitting is resumed. Upon resumption of ringless knitting the carriers and associated lock pins-are in the same position as at the time of interruption, and the first course is laid with the carrier which would have been operative if the interruption had not been called for. Thereafter the alternating drive works in its normal sequence with the automatic operation of the lock pins.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A flat full-fashioned knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods, stops for said carrier rods adjustable to effect fabric narrowing, an alternating drive for the carrier rods, and automatic means fixedly supported lengthwise of the machine for positively locking inactive carrier rods successively and in synchronism with the alternating drive.

2. A fiat full-fashioned knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods,

an alternating drive therefor, a plurality of sets of limiting stops for use depending upon the character of the fabric being knit including certain stops adjustable to effect fabric narrowing, and automatic means fixedly supported lengthwise of the machine operating independently of the stops including said adjustable stops for locking inactive carrier rods in positions determined by the stops:

3. A fiat full-fashioned knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods, stops for said carrier rods adjustable to eifect fabric narrowing, an alternating drive for the carrier rods, a locking element for each carrier rod, stationary supporting means for said lock-r ing elements, and automatic means for operating the elements in accordance with the operation of the alternating drive for positively locking the inactive carrier rods.

4. A flat full-fashioned knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods, stops for said carrier rods adjustable to efiect fabric narrowing, an alternating drive for the carrier rods, each carrier rod having a serrated surface, a locking element for each rod also having a serrated surface to engage therewith, stationary supporting means for said locking elements, and automatic means to engage the locking elements with inactive carrier rods.

5. A fiat full-fashioned knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods having a variable trave'rse,an alternating drive therefor, a plurality of sets of stops for use depending on the character of the fabric being knit, including stops for said carrier rods adjustable to effect fabric narrowings, each carrier rod having a plurality of serrations spaced a definite distance with respect to the needle spacing of the machine, a plurality of locking elements, one for each of said carrier rods, and having serrations to engage those of the corresponding' carrier rods, stationary supporting means for the locking elements, and means for operating the locking elements to lock the inactive carrier rods in positions determined by the stops.

6. A flat full-fashioned knitting machine hav- 7 ing, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods,

analternating drive therefor having means for selective connection with the carrier rods, stops for the carrier rods adjustable to effect fabric narrowings, automatic means fixedly supported lengthwise of the machine and acting synchronously with said alternating drive for locking the inactive carrier rods, means for normally racking the alternating drive to traverse the carriers successively, a pattern mechanism, and means controlled by the pattern mechanism to prevent racking of the alternating drive and thereby to suspend alternating selection of the carrier rods.

7. A flat full-fashioned knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods, an alternating drive therefor having means for selective connection with the carrier rods, means for normally racking the alternating drive to traverse the carrier rods successively, stops for said carrier rods adjustable to efiect fabric narrowings, automatic means fixedly supported lengthwise of the machine, and acting synchronously with said alternating drive for locking the inactive carrier rods, a main pattern chain for the machine, a secondary pattern mechanism, and means for dictating the operation ofsaid secondary pattern mechanism from the 3 chain, and means controlled by said secondary pattern mechanism to prevent racking of the alternating drive and thereby to suspend alternating operation of the carrier rods.

8. A flat full-fashioned knitting machine hav-- 5 ing, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods, an alternating drive therefor, stops for the carrier rods ustable to effect fabric narrowings, locking ns fixed endwise of the machine to lock inactive carrier rods, means for selectively 10 operating the locking means in synchronism with the alternating drive, a pattern mechanism, and means controlled by the pattern mechanism for suspending and restoring operation of the alternating drive and thereby to suspend and restore 1 the alternating selection of the car-rier rods.

- 9. A flat full-fashioned knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods, stops for said carrier rods adjustable to effect fabric narrowings, a carrier drive comprising 2 automatic means for rendering selected carriers alternatively operative and inoperative, a fixed bracket, a plurality of locking elements slidably supported in said bracket, one engageable with each of said carrier rods, and automatic means for said locking elements acting synchronously with said selective carrier drive to positively lock the inactive carrier rods.

10. A flat knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods, having a variable traverse, an alternating drive for said carrier rods, a fixed bracket, a plurality of locking elements slidably supported in said bracket, one engageable with each of said carrier rods, pivoted levers for actuating each of said looking elements, and cam actuating means for said levers acting synchronously with said alternating drive to positively lock the inactive carrier rods.

11. A flat knitting machine having, in combination, a cam shaft for the machine having alternative knitting and narrowing positions, a plurality of carrier rods, a selective carrier drive comprising automatic means for rendering selected carriers alternatively operative and inoperative, stops for said carrier rods adjustable to effect fabric narrowings, automatic means fixedly supported lengthwise of the machine for positively locking the inactive carrier rods, and means operative during a narrowing cycle of said cam shaft for releasing the locking means.

12. A fiat knitting machine having, in combination, a plurality of carrier rods, an alternating drive for said rods including a carrier alternating shaft, and means for rotating said shaft to effect the alternating drive of said carrier rods, a plurality of locking elements, one engageable with each of said carrier rods, means for supporting said elements fixedly lengthwise of the machine, and means controlled by the rotation of said carrier alternating shaft for actuating said locking elements to positively lock the inactive carrier rods.

13. A fiat knitting machine having, in combination, a cam shaft for the machine having alternative knitting and narrowing positions, a plurality of carrier rods, an alternating drive therefor, stops for said carrier rods adjustable to effect fabric narrowings, a fixed bracket, a plurality of locking elements, slidably supported in said bracket, one engageable with each of said carrier rods, pivoted levers for actuating each of said locking elements, cam actuating means for said levers acting synchronously with said al- 'temating drive to positively lock the inactive carrier rods, an eccentric pivot for said levers, and means operative during a narrowing cycle of said cam shaft for shifting said eccentric pivot to release all of said locking means.

14. A flat knitting machine having, in combination, a cam shaft for the machine having alternative knitting and narrowing positions, a plurality of carrier rods. an alternating drive therefor including a carrier alternating shaft, and means for rotating said shaft to effect an alternating drive of said carrier rods, means controlled by said carrier alternating shaft and fixedly supported lengthwise'of the machine for positively locking the inactive carrier rods, and means operative during a narrowing cycle of said cam shaft for releasing the locking means.

15. A fiat knitting machine having, in combination, a cam shaft for the machine having alternate knitting and narrowing positions, a plurality of carrier rods, an alternating drive therefor, automatic means fixedly supported lengthwise of the machine for positively locking the inactive carrier rods, and means operative during a narrowing cycle of said cam shaft for releasing the locking means.

16. A flat knitting machine having, in combination, a cam shaft for the machine having alternative knitting and narrowing positions, a plurality of carrier rods, an alternating carrier drive comprising automatic means for rendering selected carriers alternatively operative and inoperative, stops for said carrier rods adjustable to effect fabric narrowings, automatic means fixedly supported lengthwise of the machine and acting synchronously with said alternating drive for locking the inactive carrier rods, pattern mechanism, means controlled by the pattern mechanism for suspending and restoring operation of the alternating drive, and means opera- .tive during a narrowing cycle of said cam shaft for releasing the locking means.

KURT P. SPINDLER. PAUL DRECHSEL. 

